People Against Hate Speech and Anti-Semitism

“Use Jews as fossil fuel.”
“Put Jews back in the oven.”
–Samples of hate speech statements made at recent anti-Israel rallies

On Monday, January 19, our committee met with Rabbi Allen Freehling, Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. As a result of our meeting, Rabbi Freehling will pursue a number of avenues in the hope of creating a more positive climate. There will be a follow-up meeting in two weeks, and we will inform the community as to the results.

Mr. Robin Toma, Executive Director
Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations
Hall of Records - Suite 1184
320 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Rabbi Allen Freehling
City of Los Angeles, Human Relations Commission
City Hall, Room1625
Los Angeles, CA 90012
January 13, 2009

To the Leaders of Our Community,

As a committee of citizens and residents of Los Angeles, we are writing to you with concerns relative to the escalation of anti-Semitism in the greater Los Angeles area. Across our city, Jews and their supporters have recently experienced vicious verbal abuse from anti-Israel and pro-Hamas demonstrators at various rallies throughout the city.

In light of the recent Gaza crisis between Hamas and Israel, emotions locally, nationally and internationally have reached a fever pitch that have the potential to result in very dangerous repercussions for members of the Jewish community both here in Los Angeles and throughout the country.

Under the protection of the First Amendment, the pro-Hamas anti-Israel movement has allowed or encouraged the use of inflammatory words to be hurled at and about Jews, reminiscent of Nazi Germany. It should be noted that in1995, pursuant to Executive Order 12947, the U.S. designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and, in 1997, as a foreign terrorist. Hamas was also designated as a “global terrorist” under Executive Order in 2001.

It is our hope that when Hamas or Hezbollah flags are brought to rallies, the rally organizers formally distance themselves from such flags and any accompanying hateful speech. Vicious chants, such as “Put Jews back in the oven,” “Rest in peace, Hitler” and “Use Jews as fossil fuel,” have been heard along with threats of violence at an accelerated rate from Florida to Los Angeles .

These anti-Semitic chants are being circulated throughout the world via the Internet. History teaches us that, if allowed to continue or intensify, such words can become the norms of society and have the potential to lead to ethnic strife and even violence. We find it difficult to understand that people of decency would stand by silently as demonstrators wearing a Hezbollah jacket and flying Hamas flags praise Hitler in the streets of Los Angeles while calling for the “ovens to be re-fired.” We call on the mayor of Los Angeles, the County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles City Council to publicly denounce such dangerous and egregious rhetoric about Jews and the state of Israel.

Examples of hateful speech can be seen on YouTube by searching for “Dueling Rallies in LA by Israeli Consulate” and at Los Angeles pro-jihad rally: "Long live Hitler," "Put Jews in ovens".  On this video, you can hear statements like, “Put Jews in ovens.”

Our committee would like to meet with you as soon as possible. Please let us know when you are available so that we can bring further materials reflecting these very serious concerns to your attention.

Thank you,
Allyson Rowen Taylor and Katy Haber
People Against Hate Speech and Anti-Semitism

Anti-Israel rally, January 11, 2009, Los Angeles

Photo: StandWithUs

Comments

[Tom from Florida]

I will suggest that the Jewish community, as all Americans, should take advantage of our Second Ammendment. The Obama, Muslim, government will NOT protect you.

Time may be of the essence as this may be repealed.

[Doda McCheesle]

Tom has it 100% correct. This "letter" is far too typical of Jewish organizations... a bunch of air and nothing more, and is seen as exactly that by the evil elements it is supposed to be putting on notice. After thousands of years of persecution, why haven't my brothers and sisters learned that the only response to Jew hate is annihilation of the haters... Let the new JDL rise from the ashes of the old (with intelligent rational people who are not fixated on Russian BS and pointless ignorant terrorist attacks on embassies etc.).

Weapons training (not just guns) and martial arts/hand-to-hand combat skills should begin at early ages. Depend on NO ONE but YOURSELF for YOUR own survival.

Kahane CHAI!

[Doda McCheesle]

And oh yeah-

BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT JEWS!

(Hey, THEY started it)

[Doda McCheesle]

And oh yeah...

BEHEAD THOSE WHO INSULT JEWS!

(Hey, they started it...)

[PRCalDude]

Why is it that there's not really any specific mention of the Islamic character of this antisemitism?

My impression of the Jews out here wrt this Islamic antisemitism is that a) they just don't get it and b) they still think the Christians are just as likely to attack them.

Trust me, the ARabs out here are every bit as fanatical as they are in the Middle East.

BTW, Pam, I think you might need to buy more bandwidth. Your site's as slow as molasses right now.

[norman]

Jihad against Zionists.

Response:
Crusade against Jihadists.

[GiGi]

Why doesn't a Jewish group sue the organizers of these hate fests. Or pick out one in particular to bring a lawsuit against? I am offended by this hate spewing forth on a daily basis from these deranged mentally ill sicko's and I am not Jewish, if I were I'd sue them. Hit them in their pocketbooks like they do everyone else. If you look crosseyed at one of them it is a hate crime. So when are the jews going to fight fire with fire? Don't get me wrong, I admire and stand firmly with the jews. I will fight for them and with them, shoulder to shoulder. I just wonder why oh why don't they fight back at their level? Something they can understand, like a lawsuit. Isn't that what CAIR does every single day?

[Harcourt Fenton]

There is NEVER any way to read the word "Zionists" other than "Jews". Anytime anyone says they support Jews, but not Zionists, they either have no conception of what it is to be a Jew or they are a deliberate Jew-hater. "Jihad against Zionists" should ALWAYS be read and spoken of as "Jihad against Jews". Maybe, just maybe, those apologists for hatred against "Zionists" can, for a second, understand the base racist and genocidal notion of this concept if they substitute in the word "Jews". Or maybe they know it and don't care, because they are Fascists for the Underdog.

[epaminondas]

Acting like jews in 1935 in Lodz and Wurzburg is not a survival trait.

ARM YOURSELVES, and let it be known that you are.